U SPORTS women's rugby championship game 1: Gee-Gees gallop past X-Women, advance to U SPORTS semifinal
KINGSTON, Ont. – Third-year centre Claire Gallagher scored one try and a pair of converts to go along with two penalty goals to lead the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees past the StFX X-Women 40-12 in the opening quarterfinal match at the 2021 U SPORTS women's rugby championship.
The Gee-Gees recorded a trio of tries in the opening 12 minutes of play en route to an early 17-0 advantage. Madison Grant opened the scoring in the sixth minute, while Ngozi Mosindi and Tylo Borsboom reached the end zone shortly thereafter.
The Gee-Gees took advantage of breaks in the X-Women defense to find openings with several key runs and breaks down the wing.
After the early scoring blitz, the X-Women settled in and with 15 minutes left in the opening half had good forward momentum in the Ottawa zone but could not push the ball across, despite a pair of strong possessions.
Maya Montiel touched down in the 35th minute to give the Gee-Gees a 22-0 halftime lead and one they would never relinquish.
Coming out of the break Gallagher scored just two minutes into the second half on a long run down the right-wing, then converted her own try to put the Gee-Gees ahead 27-0.
Gallagher also connected for a pair of penalty kicks in the second half and converted a try by teammate Jetta Driscoll in the 44th minute. Driscoll capitalized on a STFX turnover off a blocked kick and ran the ball in uncontested.
The X-Women broke through in the 56th minute on Maddie Harroun's first score of the tournament, followed 10 minutes later by AUS most valuable player Danielle Franada's tally.
With one Franada convert on her own try, the final score held 40-12 in favour of the RSEQ finalist Ottawa Gee-Gees.
The NIKE performers of the game were Ottawa's Claire Gallagher who scored 15 points, and STFX's Maddie Harroun.
With the win, Ottawa advances to their seventh straight championship semifinal and will face the winner of the second quarterfinal of the day between the Victoria Vikes and OUA champion Guelph Grpyhons.
StFX moves to the consolation side of the bracket and will face the losing team from the Victoria-Guelph quarterfinal on Friday at 11:00 am EST.
-30-
Courtesy Queen's Sports Information, with contribution from STFX Sports Information
SCORING SUMMARY
First Half
OTT – Try Madison Grant 6'
OTT – Try Ngozi Mosindi (Claire Gallagher convert) 10'
OTT – Try Tylo Borsboom 12'
OTT – Try Maya Montiel 35'
Second Half
OTT – Try Claire Gallagher 38'
OTT – Penalty Kick Claire Gallagher 42'
OTT – Try Jetta Driscoll (Claire Gallagher convert) 44'
StFX – Try Maddie Harroun 56'
OTT – Penalty Kick Claire Gallagher 60'
StFX – Try Danielle Franada (Danielle Franada convert) 65'